USA > Iowa > Lee County > The history of Lee county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 57
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On the scaffold Stephen spoke first. He was a tall, finely-formed, dark- complexioned man, with black hair, and a loud, ringing voice, in which there was not the slightest tremor when he spoke. Calm and collected as on an ordinary occasion, he addressed the crowd, who listened with great attention while he spoke. Among other things, he said "How can that jury who brought in a verdict of guilty, sleep calmly on their pillows at night?" William spoke well, but was excited and trembled slightly, and his voice was not so loud or his manner so decided.
They expected to be rescued, and till the last moment looked as if for some one to come. But no rescue came. The "New Purchase" ferry-boat came in just before the execution, loaded down with passengers from Nauvoo, and its whistle was heard just before the execution, at the levee. The passengers had
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
barely time to get to the scene of the execution before it took place. The sis- ters of the murderers were present. The condemned men were clothed in long white robes, their arms pinioned with cords at the elbows. The religious exer- cises were conducted by a minister from Mount Pleasant. After singing the hymn,
". While the lamp holds out to burn, 'The vilest sinner may return,"
prayer was offered, after which the culprits ascended the scaffold. The noose was adjusted to their necks, the black cap was drawn over their eyes, Sheriff McKenny cut the rope suspending the drops on which they stood, and their bodies shot downward, swayed back and forth for a few minutes, Stephen drawing up his legs with a convulsive effort once only. Wild cries of despair from their sisters rent the air as they fell, and a deathlike stillness outside of this reigned in the crowd of thousands who covered the hillsides and filled the ravine below the scaffold, which was surrounded by militia under arms.
In their affidavit for continuance, in the handwriting of Judge Hall, one of their attorneys, made on the 10th of June, 1845, they stated they could not proceed to trial on account of the absence of material witnesses, the first- named being Artemus Johnson, George Brottit, Hiram Broffit, Willis Smith. Thomas Morgan. George Kimball and Lydia Hodges, who resided at Nauvoo, Ill., and that they expected to prove by these witnesses that on Saturday night of the 10th of May, 1845, they were at home in Nauvoo, all night ; also that. the cap found upon the premises was not the cap of either of said defendants. That they had promised Irwin Hodges, brother of defendants, to appear vol- untarily and testify, but "on account of the alleged excitement existing in the community, they feared their presence would subject them to insult and abuse. and possibly violence," and that, however they disliked the alternative, they were compelled to believe the depositions of said witnesses would have to be taken or they would lose their evidence.
They further stated in the same affidavit that they knew of no other wit- nesses by whom the same facts could be proven, except John Long, Aaron Long, Judge Fox and Henry Adams, of St. Louis, Mo. The three first. named afterward became widely-known from being the murderers of Col. Dav- enport. These witnesses, it is stated in the affidavit, were at Nauvoo, on the night of the murder, and that they could procure their evidence by next term. This application was properly over-ruled by the Court, and the names in the affidavit are cited for the purpose of showing who were the confederates of the Hodgeses, and connected with the old Mormon banditti and Danite Band.
Robberies still continued all over the country. One of the largest was that of the law office of Knox & Dewey, at Rock Island, whose safe was broken open and robbed of $640.
The murder of Col. Davenport on the 4th of July, 1845, at Rock Island. at his home, in broad daylight, was the boldest and most daring yet committed by the old Mormon banditti, and startled the whole country as the echoes and reverberations of a fire-bell in the night.
Col. Davenport was an aged and feeble man, a prominent and deservedly popular citizen, and an old settler, universally respected and loved for his many virtues by the entire community.
The operations of this gang extended throughout the Rock River country in Illinois : and in Ogle and Winnebago Counties especially, they became so bold and daring that as to over-ride and overawe the courts. At last, the people organized themselves as vigilantes and commenced a war of extermination.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Two of the gang (the Discols, father and son), were arrested, tried, convicted and shot by the vigilantes in Ogle County. Others were turned over to the courts, where they were convicted and sentenced to the Penitentiary ; others were warned to leave the country, and still others, finding that their " occupa- tion was gone," left the county of their own accord, and quite a number of them found their way to different parts of Iowa-some of them, as the Brodies, set- tling in Linn County, where they abandoned their old practices of dishonesty and outlawry, and are now recognized as good citizens and influential church members.
EXPULSION OF THE MORMONS.
After the murder of Col. Davenport and Miller and Leiza, public indigna- tion against the Mormons and their allies overleaped all restraint and found expression in public meetings, resolutions and public addresses that could not be misunderstood. The first meeting of this kind in Lee County was held in Montrose, where the leading speech was made by Judge Edward Johnstone, now a successful and popular banker at Keokuk. The result of this meeting was the calling of a mass-meeting, the nomination of an Anti-Mormon ticket, the publication of an address to the people by a committee appointed for that pur- pose, and the adoption of a resolution to expel the Mormons-" peaceably if possible, forcibly if necessary." For the proceedings of this meeting, a copy of the address, etc., the publishers are indebted to Col. Reid's publication, from which several extracts have already been made :
In pursuance of public notice the Anti-Mormon citizens of Lee County, without distinction of party, met at the Court House in Fort Madison, on Thursday evening, 16th October, for the purpose of nominating candidates to represent said county in the next Legislature.
Edwin Guthrie, Esq., was chosen President, William Perdew and Capt. Samuel Vance as Vice Presidents, and D. A. Layman and I. G. Wickersham, Esq., Secretaries.
T. A. Walker being called on, briefly stated the object of the meeting, and submitted the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted :
WHEREAS, The late difficulties between the old settlers in Illinois and the Mormons, and the numerous offenses committed in this county by persons professing to belong to the "Church of the Latter-Day Saints," has caused great excitement among our citizens ; and whereas, it is firmly believed that the Mormons and others who do not belong to their peculiar faith cannot reside together in peace ; and whereas, for the purpose of preventing further violence it is thought advis- able that the Mormons and citizens of Lee County should no longer remain together, therefore
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting that the public welfare requires that the Mormons should depart from this county at as early a day as practicable.
Resolved, That this meeting deprecates all acts of violence, but stamps with contempt the conduct of those sympathizing individuals who prate about the " cruelties of Anti-Mormonism."
Resolved, That two Anti- Mormon candidates to represent Lee County in the next Legislature be nominated by this meeting, whose election may fully ascertain and express public sentiment on the subject of the Mormons leaving this county.
Resolved, That a committee of ten persons be appointed by the Chairman to present the nanies of two suitable persons as candidates, and report forthwith.
Resolved, That a committee of ten persons be appointed by the chair to draft an address to the citizens of the county, in furtherance of the object of this meeting.
The following gentlemen were appointed by the chair as the committee to select and report the names of candidates to the meeting, viz., T. A. Walker, David Galland, Esq., Samuel B. Ayres, Joseph A. Clark, Esq., Absolom Anderson, Esq., Samuel E. Jack, John Milliken, Esq., Isaac A. Lefevre, Hawkins Taylor and Samuel T. Marshall, Esq.
The committee, after being absent for a short time, returned and reported as suitable persons to be supported as Anti-Mormon candidates for the Legislature, the names of Col. William Pat- terson and Gen. Jesse B. Browne.
On motion, these nominations were confirmed unanimously by the meeting.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
The President then proceeded to appoint as a committee to draft an address to the people of Lee County the following persons, to wit,
William Stotts, Jesse O'Neil, Adam Hine, Lewis R. Reeves, John Burns and Henry Catter- mole.
During the evening the meeting was addressed by J. C. Hall, Esq., of Burlington ; Col. H. T. Reid, T. A. Walker, Ed. Johnstone, Esq., Hawkins Taylor and H. E. Vrooman, Esq. On motion of Ed. Johnstone, Esq., it was unanimously
Resolved, That the members of this meeting hereby pledge themselves to use all honorable means to secure the election of the candidates nominated this evening.
On motion of H. E. Vrooman, Esq.,
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the newspapers at Burling- ton and the Warsaw Signal.
Whereupon the meeting adjourned without day.
EDWIN GUTHRIE, President.
WILLIAM PERDEW, SAMUEL VANCE, Vice Presidents.
D. A. LAYMAN, I. G. WICKERSIIAM, Secretaries.
ADDRESS TO THE VOTERS AND TAX-PAYERS OF LEE COUNTY, IOWA.
A very large and respectable meeting of citizens, favorable to the departure of the Mormons from Lee County, was held at the Court House, in Fort Madison, on Thursday evening, the 16th inst. Two Anti-Mormon candidates for the Legislature were nominated at that time, and the undersigned were appointed a committee to address you in futherance of the objects of said meeting.
The next election for members of the Legislative Assembly will take place on the first Saturday of November next, and the meeting presented for your suffrages as an Anti-Mormon ticket Col. William Patterson and Gen. Jesse B. Browne.
These gentlemen are among the "oldest settlers" of Lee County and known to every legal voter in it. They are esteemed as men of intelligence and tried Legislators, and no one doubts their entire willingness and ability to do, in a legislative capacity, full justice to the different interests of our citizens. The meeting referred to was composed of men of both political parties, the officers and committees were equally divided in their political and local prefer- ences, and it was hoped that in the selection of candidates, every man who felt disposed to aid in expressing public opinion on the subject of the departure of the Mormons, might do so without conceding his party predilections. It was considered that it was the duty of every citizen to unite in inducing by moral means the "Latter-Day Saints " from longer abiding among us. This ques- tion is now superior in importance to all others, and a truce was therefore declared by the two political parties, and such a union we believe is accom- plished, as will show, at the next election, an expression of popular sentiment on this subject not to be mistaken. One of the Anti-Mormon candidates is a Whig, the other a Democrat, and both are prominent in the several parties to which they belong. In regard to the many sectional interests which have divided this county, the candidates hold different opinions, but it is understood that all local questions, as well as politics, are merged in the necessary and important movement of Anti-Mormonism.
It is due to you to say why an Anti-Mormon ticket was selected. We shall do so briefly. The progress of the Latter-Day Saints is well known, and their frequent strifes with the citizens of Ohio, Missouri and Illinois are matters of history. Wherever they go and grow strong, there spring up dissensions and violence between them and other citizens. The crimes charged upon them are without number. It is scarcely necessary to recount those which have been committed in this county. The old German preacher, Miller, was shot down in
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
his own house, and his son-in-law, Leiza, was cut to pieces in defending his family. Where did this occur ? In the very heart of Lee County. By whom was this outrage committed ? By a band of Mormon brothers, some of whom where expounders and teachers of the faith of the Latter-Day Saints. Tax- payers, what did this midnight murder cost you ? The expenses paid by the county growing out of this nefarious butchery amounted to upward of $2,800.
The Reden's, living a few miles from Montrose, openly and knowingly entertained the murderers of Col. Davenport, and when they, and one of them who shot him, were arrested, an attempt was made by some of the leading Mormons and their sympathizers to have them turned loose on the community by a writ of habeas corpus, and the persons arresting themi ndicted for kidnap- ping ! It would be impossible to enumerate Mormon theft and offenses in this county alone. A few will suffice. They are obtained from the records of the District Court.
List of Mormon thieves, etc., who have escaped from justice in Lee County, Iowa, by forfeiting their recognizances, and with their 'securities running away to Nauvoo :
United States vs. Jeremiah Plumb-larceny ; Same vs. Mark A. Childs and E. C. Richard- son-buying and receiving stolen goods ; Same vs. Nathaniel Eames-bogus making ; Same vs. Wm. A. Hickman - larceny : Same vs. Philander Avery- larceny ; Same vs. Levi Wickerson- stealing nails; Same vs. Jonathan Barlow -- horse-stealing; Same vs. Jefferson Bradly and Alvin Sanford - larceny ; Same vs. Jedediah Owens-larceny ; Same vs. Samuel Musick- larceny ; Same vs. Nelson Benton -larceny ; Same vs. Robert Owen and Samuel Avery- larceny ; Same vs. Sylvester Jackson -counterfeiting; Same vs. Ethaw Pettit-assault with intent to kill.
It is a remarkable fact, fellow-citizens, that the only Mormon ever convicted in this county was one Darius Gibbs, indicted for burglary, and proven to be guilty by Mormon witnesses. Time explained this mystery, for it was after- ward discovered that Gibbs was a renegade from the church of Latter-Day Saints. In many of the foregoing cases, the cost paid by the county amounted to $150, and upon a computation made by some of the county officers, it appears that Mormon offenders have, since their coming here in 1839, cost the county the round sum of $5,000 or $6,000. Tax-payers, what say you to keeping up the Mormon organization in your county at the rate of $1,000 per annum ?
Such is the startling array of facts, fellow-citizens, presented to you from a cursory examination of the record of our Court. And yet you are told by a newspaper published in your midst, dated on the 20th of the last month, that " what few Mormons there are in this county conduct themselves as good citi- zens!" We have the same high authority, on the 11th inst., canting about the " absurdities of Mormonism, and the cruelties of Anti-Mormonism."
When the citizens of Lee County, exercising a constitutional right, assemble, entertaining no feelings of personal hostility toward "Mormons " individually, but for the sake of future peace, earnestly recommending and requesting those residing in this county to make preparations to remove therefrom as soon as practicable, such request is placed under the head of the " cruelties of Anti- Mormonism." When the citizens are requested to aid by exchange of property or otherwise the departure of any Mormon or Mormons who may desire to leave the county, it is charged as among the cruelties of Anti-Mormonism. But when the Hodges and their accomplices waken from their repose by the blows of their bludgeons, a sleeping and peaceful family ; when the father dies at his own door, and the son falls, bathed in blood, mortally wounded, it is only one of the " absurdities of Mormonism." When those who had shot and choked to death an old soldier on the day of liberty, in his own house, came with their
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
hands red with murder, and were entertained and comforted by their "saintly" accessories in this county, it was only another of the " absurdities of Mormon- ism." When the Mormon burglars broke into and robbed the house of Smith, near Franklin, it was only another "absurdity !" When Amos Hodges and his " fellow-saints " plundered the Norwegian family on the " tract." it was not " cruelty, " but only an "absurdity !" Childs, Richardson, Eames, Hickman, Avery, Nickerson, Barlow, Bradly. Sandford. Owens, Musick. Burton, Jackson, Pettit, all Mormons, and a host of others, were guilty of similar "absurdities !" " Cruelties " is the term applied to the peaceful movement of Anti-Mormon- ism, and the tender epithet of "absurdities" to the midnight murders and felonies of the Mormons.
A system of petty Mormon thieving is so extensively carried on in this county, that our citizens can scarcely any longer exercise a peaceful forbearance. Every old settler has lost something. No one feels secure. Each man before he retires to rest, bolts and barricades his house, and hospitality reluctantly opens the door after nightfall, fearing it might let in the cut-throat and thief, instead of the stranger seeking a shelter. All good men reprobate violence, and therefore the . Latter-Day Saints " have been solicited to depart from among us. This request was made at a meeting of our fellow-citizens on the 1st inst., at the town of Montrose. It was thought prudent to give further force to that expression of public sentiment. No means appeared so effective for this purpose as the ballot-box, and the ticket above referred to was therefore pre- sented for your consideration. It is hoped that the vote given for it will be so decided as will leave no doubt of the wishes of the people in regard to the Mormons leaving the county, and when you cast your suffrages for the Anti- Mormon candidates, remember that you are thus exercising your moral power to induce the deluded people called the " Latter-Day Saints," to depart in peace. Remember that you are doing an act which will save your county from future scenes of violence, and the tax-paying community from burdensome levies upon them.
The meeting which nominated the ticket above presented desire to lay aside at the coming election all questions political and local. and present the issue of Anti-Mormonism and Mormonism alone, and none other. Men of both parties, men differing upon all local questions. were in attendance, and all agree as to the present paramount importance of inducing the Mormons to leave the county. It is not expected that they will permit the Anti-Mormon candidates to be elected without opposition. They number many votes themselves and they have many sympathizers. They and their coadjutors dare not meet the issue fairly, but will strive to avoid it. They will get up tickets and denominate them as the " People &." " Settlers""" " American," or by some other attractive or delusive title. But by this many cannot be deceived. A cry, too, will be raised against the Anti-Mormon ticket by disappointed office-seekers, hoping thereby hereafter to procure Mormon support. The designs of all such politicians are too trans- parent to blind any one but themselves. An attempt will be made to rouse up local prejudices by the Mormons and Jack Mormons. This, too, must fail. for the committee are authorized to say that the Anti-Mormon candidates are pledged to move, if elected, no sectional question of any kind in the Legislature. They desire to run free from all trammels. and will esteem their election as expressing in a manner not to be misunderstood, the opinion of the people of Lee County on the subject of Mormon emigration therefrom. An attempt will be made to draw aside public attention during the canvass by abuse heaped upon individuals not before the people. Such assaults will only recoil upon the
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
heads of the calumniators themselves, and cover them with shame and confusion. An attempt will be made by the Mormons to assail Anti-Mormons candidates, because at one time they may have expressed sympathy for their sufferings. This cannot avail anything. General sympathy and kindness were extended to- these people when they came, poor and needy, among us ; but since the true char- actor of many of them is truly developed, the desire for their immediate and peaceful departure is universal. Every honest citizen will cheerfully assist a worthy fellow-man in distress, but withdraws his support when the object of his compassion proves to be a thief or a cut-throat. Other individuals are indifferent to suffering, when clothed in the garb of integrity, but so soon as the object of charity is suspected as a felon, they seek his society.
Fellow tax-payers, we appeal to you to aid us in getting rid of an abundant source of taxation. Fellow-voters, we call upon you to exercise your moral influence at the ballot-box, and induce the Mormons to seek another place of abode. Fellow-citizens, without distinction of party, vote for the Anti-Mor- mon ticket, and prevent those days of violence which the future may have in store for our county. The true issue may be evaded, Mormon and Jack Mor- mon abuse will flow freely ; demagogues will squirm and writhe; every effort will be made by a few expiring place-hunters ; but let every citizen do his duty, and all their denunciations and struggles will be in vain.
On the first Saturday of next month let every man come to the polls, and let every one who desires future peace, prosperity and a healthy state of society in the "Empire County," cast their suffrages for Browne and for Patterson.
Your fellow-citizens,
JOHN BURNS, WM. STOTTS, A. HINE, L. R. REEVES, JESSE O'NEIL.
October 16, 1845.
The following communication was handed to Judge Mason during the present sitting of the Lee County District Court. He felt authorized by the unanimous request of the grand jury to excuse from further attendance the persons therein named, Rev. William O. Clark and Dr. John Patten, as two of the most promi- nent Mormons in Lee County.
GRAND JURY ROOM, October 14, 1845.
To the Hon. Charles Mason, Judge of the District Court of Lee County :
The undersigned grand jurors for the county of Lee, respectfully represent to Your Honor : that there are now upon the grand jury, two Mormons, to wit: William O. Clark and John Patten ; that owing to the many crimes with which the Mormons have been charged in this county, the grand jury will undoubtedly be called upon to investigate said charges, and particularly to ferret out, if possible, a company of Mormons whom the grand jury believe to be engaged at this time manufacturing spurious coin ; and apprehensive as we are, that the said Mormons upon the grand jury will not be disposed, in consequence of their intimate relations with said company, to co-operate with us in said investigation, we, therefore, most respectfully and unanimously, ask Your Honor to excuse said jurors from further attendance upon the grand jury.
1. J. A. Clark, 8. John E. Leeper, 15. Joel W. Hiatt,
2. Theophilus Bullard,
9. William L. Matthews.
16. John Houston,
3. D. M. Sherman, 10. Campbell Wright, 17. A. N. Deming,
4. Joshua Owen,
11. Samuel Davis,
18. Richard Pritchett,
6. Salmon Cowles,
13. William Howard,
20. James McAlenny,
7. Isaac May,
14. Luke Shepley, -
21 Robert Henry.
The Anti-Mormon ticket was triumphantly elected by a large majority, and all the Mormons able to travel were expelled from the county. The old Mor- mons having left the country, the Mormon element still survived, not in mid- night assassination, but in horse-stealing, petit larceny, and in other thievery. Counterfeiters of coin and paper money succeeded them, with their headquar-
5. William Steele,
12. Alexander R. Wheat, 19. John H. Lines,
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
ters at Nauvoo. Old Ben Brooks and his sons ran the horse-thief ferry to Montrose, with Brooks' son-in-law, John Hine, and old Dave Vrooman. A store in Montrose was burglarized by them and a lot of horses stolen, which were found in their possession. They were arrested and bound over by Squire Conlee, of Jefferson Township, and all but Vrooman committed. They sued out a writ of habeas corpus before Judge Williams, and C. J. McFarland, Lyman E. Johnson and Jim Woods appeared as their attorneys in the burg- lary case, and they were discharged, as they produced a host of perjured wit- nesses, dressed as farmers and laboring-men who were strangers to the Court, and proved an alibi. They were again arrested, and, this time, by the aid of outside confederates, broke jail at Fort Madison, leaving, as a parting salute, the following note, written with charcoal on the plastering: "Farewell ! a long farewell to this d-d hoal!" They did not leave the country. A part of the gang, Whitcomb and one Collins, robbed John Wright on the bluff near Devil Creek, in the James Bullard neighborhood, entering his house at midnight, masking their faces with handkerchiefs, with holes cut out for their eyes, getting nearly $100 in gold. Collins escaped, but Whitcomb, who was then under arrest for horse-stealing, was tried, convicted, and sent to the Pen- itentiary for three years. He had been confined but a short time when, one dark night, old Vrooman and others came from Nauvoo, and by some means secured his escape. The alarm was given, and Vrooman was found with two skiffs waiting to take him across the river, and was arrested. As there was no evidence against him he was released, and then taken down where Atlee & Sons' mill now stands, and severely whipped, and given his orders never to return.
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